UPDATE

India’s River Week to discuss and adopt national charters on rivers

Source: Toxics Link, Date: November , 2014

The first ever India Rivers Week
was organized as a national event in New Delhi from November 24-27 2014. The
main objective of the event was to bring together a vast range of stakeholders
to discuss the ground realities of rivers, and develop approaches to address
the deteriorating situation. The event brought together a range of stakeholders
which included over 100 River experts, planners, researchers, artists,
enthusiasts and activists from different parts of the country, consortium of
NGOs including WWF India, INTACH, SANDRP, among others. During the 4 day event
they discussed, deliberated and exchanged their experiences and ideas that were
aimed at rejuvenation of rivers in the country.

The event addressed one of the
major concerns of the environmental critiques who point out that the aloofness
from ground realities among planners, decision makers, and among various
government departments is a major reason for the sorry state of our rivers. No
wonder, there exists no national policy or law that could provide rivers
security from degradation and exploitation.

Toxics Link and PEACE Institute
Charitable Trust, organized the event with additional support from Arghyam
(Bengaluru), International Rivers (Mumbai office), and Peoples Science
Institute, Dehradun, who have worked on river rejuvenation in different parts of
the country.